Allergies during perimenopause

Common Questions and Answers about Allergies during perimenopause

allergies

In the past 6 months, I have developed hives around ovulation and now every other month around my period I have developed facial swelling, lips swelling, tingling in mouth. I am thinking that I am having hormone allergies. I am on xyzal but can only take a half tablet because of the jitters. Even the half tab doesn't make me feel right. I am now having to carry an epi pen and benadryl just in case.

I have been in what I believe is perimenopause for at least 2 years now. Many symptoms I am having strongly mimic MS. I have been to a Neuro., a Rheum., Obgyn. All tests have come back normal, even my hormone levels. I have numbness, tingling, intermittent pain (all predominantly on one side), extreme fatigue. The list could go on and on. My symptoms have progressively gotten worse since they began.

So I went on my own diet thanks to a nutritionist out in California who helped keep some weight on me during all the doctors visits and horrible tests. My body is very sensitive to those drinks you have to take before scans and radioactive iodine and all - which one made me break out in hives the next day and the drinks made my skin turn yellow and blue and have a panic attack right in the doctors office.

I am 48 years old and am in the perimenopause. My periods are pretty regular except when I am under more stress than normal. I usually have headaches on the first days of my period and breast tenderness from midcycle until I get my period but the breast tenderness didn't happen every month except for recently. Emotionally I'm pretty stable except I notice I am more sensitive a few days before my period arrives.

can be determined only retroactively). Duringperimenopause, many women find that they undergo symptoms of hormonal fluctuation, such as hot flashes, that cause them to seek medical advice. Mood changes, insomnia, fatigue, memory problems.
Perimenopause is a natural stage of life, not a disease or a disorder, and therefore it does not automatically require any kind of treatment.

I have been experiencing very mild, but noticible nausea around the time I ovulate and again right before, during and after my period. It is not all the time during the day, but feels very strange and unusual and has consistently come and gone during these times. I would think I were pregnant if it had not been going on for a few months and if I had not had regular, heavy periods. We are trying to get pregnant and I wonder if something is out of balance with hormones?

Allergies--I am starting to realize that the worst of my problems manifest themselves during the spring time and early fall. I am not taking any medication for allergies, for I have learned that those medications, among other things, can cause tremors and insomnia--something, for obvious reasons, I want to stay as far away as possible. If my upcoming sleep study will fail to reveal any obvious conditions, I will talk to an allergist. Thought #3: Exertion.

If I may ask -- do you mean once you were menopausal (ie no periods), or duringperimenopause? Has it gotten any better? Do you think there's any point in getting allergy tests? I had tests done about 4 years ago and was surprised to find how many grasses and trees I was allergic to (formerly, it was just cats).

YES!
I've had seasonal pollen allergies since puberty. Anti-histamines make me terribly drowsy. I started taking Quer/Brom combo for something else and noticed my allergies went away! Googled it and found out why! Been taking it ever since and hardly had ANY pollen allergies for 3 summers. Only 1,000mg in the am worked for this purpose.
Recently, however, I've developed a sudden allergy to raw carrots. Also have been battling swollen, itchy, burning eyelids.

I only notice it once every 2-5 days, but I think it is always there and just not getting irritated at all times. I can't trace it to new product allergies or eczema or psoriasis or tight synthetic clothes or my menstrual cycle. I have no discomfort during intercourse or oral sex, no unusual dryness or discharge. I am 40, but don't show any clear signs of perimenopause, and have normal periods. I am not on the pill or any other regular medicatons.

Many women who suffer from allergies develop worse allergiesduring the menopausal years. Many women who've never had allergy or respiratory problems may develop them for the first time. Many people don't realize that histamine levels are affected by hormone levels. Women can develop wheezing, coughing and a host of respiratory problems. This generally disappears as the hormones level out once a woman becomes menopausal.
25. Weight gain.

What is changing or happening in your life during the summer??
Are you spending the summers in a different locale? Are you eating and drinking different foods? Are you troubled night and day by the extra stresses of an unwanted summer guest (or perhaps a housefull of children as they are not at school during the day)? Do you suffer from allergies to summer pollens and take medications for this problem?

My primary put me on Vantin just in case I do have a sinus infection with my headaches and earaches but the lethargic feeling I have at the end of the my work day, it's like I can't function after 3 pm every day, my muscles kill and I have the hardest time getting to the gym now when three weeks ago I was on a schedule of two hours a day at the gym. Does anyone have really heavy periods, they say you can get these symptoms during perimenopause?

I'm not sure that we actually get a fever during hot flushes. I have not taken my own temperature during one but, I'd say that if you've got a steady body temp of 100 to 101, there's something else at stake here rather than hot flushes.
More often than not, a hot flush can leave you feeling drenched with sweat and exhausted and you can get "chills" after them because we're usually wet from sweating.

I'm experiencing a series of symptoms that begin with an intense,internally originating smell,
a deja vu like experience, and an intense surge in my stomach of anxiety that rises into my neck and then immediately dissipates. This began during a time when my doctor had me on Wellbutrin. I stopped the med about 2 years ago, but these symptoms continue. They are very frightening. I asked if the Wellbutrin could have done some permanent damage of some kind, but my doc says no.

I went on to have two more instances of it. During the first bout of it I was also diagnosed with Meniere's and have had Tinnitus non-stop for over 15 years. At 25 I suddenly came down with severe anxiety disorder out of nowhere, I had it for about two years, went off meds and into therapy and then had two good years.
At the age of 30 my life fell apart. Fine one minute and the next every system in my body started to fail.

Trevor,
I experienced the same thing several years ago. I was finally tested for allergies and asthma. Wallah.....Allergies were the main culprit to my condition. I suggest you get tested. You won't be sorry.

Any time I try and take any type of vitamin supplements within a week I start getting a runny nose and become congested. If I continue it gets worse. When I stop taking the supplement the "cold" goes away. I have food allergies as well as airborne allergies so I know I'm allergic to something in them but I can't figure out what. I am 36 and as I approach 40 and menopause I would like to be able to take some supplements but the "cold" keeps me from it.

It's been suggested that the most common causes are allergies, lack of proper nutrition, lack of adequate water intake, or as before, hormonal changes, particularly perimenopause and menopause.
Personally, I have been experiencing the itching sensations for the past few years, and have never known for sure if it was something external [did the cats bring in fleas...?? argh], other pests? [clean, clean, clean], or internal.

I'm taking a phytoestrogen soy supplement for my low estrogen levels (I had one ovarian cyst removed). My mother had excellent success with getting rid of her menopausal symptoms taking a soy supplement. I do have hypothyroidism so I have to make sure I take thyroxine and soy at different times (soy can interfer with thyroxine absorption). There are plenty of articles on the symptoms of menopause but this is a random one I found from Project Aware The 35 Symptoms of Menopause...

Any event that seemed to have started her symptoms?
Any history of migraines in her side of the family?
Any allergies?
Tai Chi can be very relaxing and may also help in breathing regulation.Have you tried seeing an alternative medicine specialist?
Any imaging scans done?

Not that it's an allergy necessarily but, the fact that our skin dries out more when we are estrogen deficient so, extra care with our skin is needed during these hormonal fluctuations. Check with a good cosmetician as they usually have great advice as to what types of soaps are good and mild for our skin. Personally, I use Spectrogel and if I don't have that, I use Dove Baby Soap, Unscented. I also use an unscented moisturizer like Vaseline Intensive Care or Keri Lotion.

I am seeing a new doc and she changed me to a natural thyroid Armour. She is also doing a 24 hour urine to test my hormones. I think I am in perimenopause, could this also contribute to my thyroid not being under control? May start BHRT.

I am not in perimenopause myself(yet), but I find a strong connection between arrythmias and the point of my cycle I am in (mine tend to be worse during my period, and begin to improve afterward). Don't worry! My understanding is that it is really pretty common with this lovely "stage of life" we females go through. Sounds like you could really benefit from low dose BC or hormone replacement. Meanwhile, try not to worry and eat those fruits and veggies.

Cheers The 35 Symptoms of Menopause
This list of common symptoms that occur duringperimenopause and menopause was developed from the real-life experiences of hundreds of women. All symptoms were experienced by numerous women and were either cyclical in nature, or responded to treatments (both traditional and alternative) known to address hormonal imbalances.

I'm also on Advair, Amlodipine Besaylate, Clindamycin Phosphate, Tretinoin gel, Noritate, Benzol Peroxide, Wellbutrin XL, and Cymbalta. I have asthma, allergies, high blood pressure, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and Atophic Dermatitist.
I suspect I have PCOS, but since I don't have cystic ovaries, didn't have trouble conceiving (have one daughter), and am not overweight, drs don't put much weight into it, even though my profile looks like a metabolic or endocrine problem.

He did find that my Vitamin B levels are low and says that sometimes during a menstrual cycle womens' immune systems can be reduced slightly. He thinks that because of the low Vitamin B level that maybe the reduction with immune system might be just enough to make me more prone to minor infections like this. He gave me a nasal spray to help the inflammation in my nasal passages and wants me to try this spray consistently for two cycles to see if that helps.

I participated in allergy shots at National Jewish (I live in Colorado) for years and benefited from it to the point that I no longer needed asthma meds except during a viral or bacterial infection. During those times I used Qvar for several weeks and albuterol PRN. My general health is decent. For the past year and a half I have started having more allergy issues (the shots were at least 10 years ago). I saw an allergist in Feb. of 2008 and he did allergy testing on me.

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